2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship – Finalists Announced

The 2010 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, managed by The Legatum Group and Omidyar Network, have announced the 10 finalists of small and medium-sized businesses from over 2,700 applicants across 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. A grand prize of $100,000 will be awarded with a further five entrepreneurs wiining $50,000 each. Winning companies will demonstrate visionary leadership, innovation, strong growth and a company culture that adheres to its core values. Winning companies will also have had an impact within their communities, either by fostering job creation, improved community living standards or by expanding into overseas markets.

Biodeal is a manufacturer of generic drugs: equipped with modern manufacturing equipment and state-of-the art instrumentation, Biodeal also boasts a chemical and microbiology laboratory, and a product development laboratory, to ensure the highest quality manufacture of tablets, dry syrups, capsules, creams and ointments, liquid syrups and suspensions, veterinary products, and disinfectants.

Since 1976, Malcom Hydraulics and Engineering has been providing a specialist engineering service, and offers a total engineering capability to the mines, power stations, heavy industry, engineering contractors and agriculture.

Mellech is a construction and infrastructure engineering company offering services in construction of building projects, roads, and water & sewerage projects and related civil engineering infrastructure projects.

NTR is a citizen-owned provider of world class cost effective, time saving and high performance engineering solutions and services in the areas of industrial automation and controls; electrical distribution; telecommunications; ICT; and electrical and mechanical engineering.

SIGMA Electric PLC is a multi-disciplinary Electro-Mechanical Engineering Company established in 1999, operating in four business areas of power system services; industrial service; commercial activities; and telecommunication.

Tutuka provides innovative and simple software solutions for gift vouchers or cards, prepaid cash replacement and loyalty programmes, and recently. Created the official VISA FIFA World Cup card for the 2010 tournament held in South Africa.

Wilkins Engineering Limited was established in 1993 as an engineering firm. Since its inception, it has grown from a one-man consulting business to the forefront of the electrical engineering field, specialising in three areas: low voltage services – including street lighting and domestic and commercial wiring; high voltage services – including HT network construction for urban to rural electrification; and solar applications – including solar-powered lighting to replace traditional kerosene lamps.

Finalists will make formal presentations to an international jury of business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors in Nairobi early this December. The jury will be chaired by Tokunbo Talabi of Superflux International, the Grand Prize Winner of the 2008 Africa Awards and will include some of Africa’s most prominent business leaders amongst whom are Dr. Manu Chandaria, Chairman of Comcraft Ltd; Dr. James Mwangi, CEO of Equity Bank; and Mr. Kibuga Kariithi, ex-CEO of Nairobi Stock Exchange. The 2010 Africa Awards winners will be announced at a Gala Banquet, attended by an invitation-only audience of Africa’s business leaders, policymakers and investors, on Monday December 6th in Nairobi.

AfricanBrains wishes all the finalists the best and congratulates them on their innovation and entreprenuership in reaching the finals of this prestigious award.